Where to live next in London: Islington
Outstanding culture, culinary highlights and commute times make Islington a top choice for families in the capital
Quick train links to the City make Islington a magnet for professional families who want a short commute to work, plus plenty to do with their downtime.
Most prospective buyers who come to Sophie McCarthy, a Partner in Knight Frank’s Islington office, in search of a home are British-based and appreciate the area’s relative value for money compared to west London. “We also see demand from people who are currently living out in the countryside but want a base to be close to the family,” she adds.
Islington’s big draw is its de facto high street, Upper Street. “It’s really transformed since we opened here in 2012,” McCarthy says. “There are great boutique shops and restaurants, the Everyman Cinema and the Almeida Theatre, with Sadler’s Wells just down the road.”
A two-bedroom flat in Islington costs around £750,000 and buyers can pick up a three-bedroom townhouse for around £1.8m to £2m, or a larger, circa 2,500 sq ft house from £2.5m. Prices for exceptional homes can be higher; McCarthy recently sold a large family house just off Upper Street for almost £6m. Islington’s smartest micro markets, Canonbury and Barnsbury, both have gorgeous Georgian and Victorian houses, garden squares, and – thanks to smart local traffic planning – very quiet, calm streets.
Demand is strong and buyers may need to be patient. “People don’t move very often,” says McCarthy. “When we do sell here it is often off market.”
After a record year for sales in 2023, the Islington market has settled,but continues to be busy. “When it comes to £3m-plus houses, buyers are very selective and often cautious,” McCarthy explains. “But Islington is very resilient. Whatever happens – political change, interest rate rises – we always bounce back quickly.”
Sophie’s local gems
“Frederick’s is a long-standing Islington institution; a family-run modern European restaurant with a charming conservatory dining room and garden.
“For a real local pub, The Albion is hidden away on Thornhill Street and comes complete with a wisteria-smothered façade and roaring log fires in winter.
“69 Colebrooke Row is a decadent cocktail bar with live music and a celebrity clientele – actors Natalie Portman and Paul Mescal were recently spotted there.”
